NEWMARKET

3:45 LESLIE HARRISON MEMORIAL NELL GWYN STAKES (GROUP 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo) 7f

ALBABILIA 8-12 ~ Clive Brittain trained filly who progressed well last season as a 2yo. After several fine performances she finished 4th in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh behind Saoirse Abu and Listen. To be beaten by that pair was no disgrace and the 3rd Mad About You went on to run a decent race behind star filly Zakarva in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. The form of that race is not to be sniffed at and a reproduction of that would put her in with a leading chance. However when next turned out in the Goffs Fillies Million she ran no race at all to finish last of 22 runners. The vet found her to be “clinically abnormal” post race which could mean one of a dozen or more things. It could have been anything from an over-reach to lower back pain. In her case it turns out to be an irregular heart beat. She wasn’t seen again till the Dubai Carnival this year where she finished last but one in a competitive Listed event on the turf. Given that was her first race for 5 months and she was coming back from injury she can be expected to improve on that run. Don’t forget it was a competitive event against older more experienced colts most of whom had the benefit for a previous run. Connections have said that she has strengthened up well in the sun so they are hopeful that she can bounce back. She is bred to improve with age being a King’s Best filly and her trainer has shouldered her with the tag his best filly since Sayyedati who won the 1000 Guineas in 1993. She isn’t one to rule out just yet and she has a chance on her 2yo form but of course she needs to bounce back after her last two runs.

ANOSTI 8-12 ~ She’s done well for such a cheap purchase and the Kevin Ryan trained filly has more than paid her way. All her best form as a juvenile though came over 6f but she is bred to get further so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern. However she will need to improve on her 2yo form as it leaves her short here. Her best effort came on her final run last season where she finished 2nd in a hotly contested sales race. Exclamation who won the race is running in the preceding race so it will be interesting to see how he performs. Anosti however was receiving weight from every other horse in the race so she had a sizeable advantage. On level weights she is likely to struggle stepped up in class.

CRYING AROUND 8-12 ~ Unable to break her maiden in 5 starts as a 2yo but she put that right on her seasonal reappearance at Southwell. In truth that was a weak race and she didn’t need to improve to win. She was an average juvenile and chances are she won’t be much different at 3. Paul Blockeys Street Cry filly can be confidently passed over.

FESTIVALE 8-12 ~ John Dunlops filly was the most expensive purchase in the race but that doesn’t always translate into performance on the track. She was heavily backed on debut but she wasn’t given a hard time after running very green and as a result went into many a notebook. Her supporters weren’t disappointed though as she comfortably won a Lingfield maiden next time out. Although no more than an average maiden for the track she did what was asked of her. Stepped up into a Listed race next time out she travelled well for a long way before fading at the finish. She was coming back after a 5 month break and she ran as if in need of the run. A similar scenario is likely today but she is still very unexposed and could potentially be anything. The Invinsible Spirit filly is an interesting runner as she has hinted that she could be very good but has yet to be given the chance to prove it so she has to enter calculations.

GONE FAST 8-12 ~ Looked to be a filly with a future when destroying the field in a Windsor maiden. Not surprisingly she was stepped up into Group company on the back of that performance and she started favourite for the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes. However she failed to translate her maiden performance up into Group class and she finished a last but one. The firm ground was muted as an excuse but she was equally poor at Ayr and here at Newmarket on better ground on subsequent runs. She was trained by James Fanshawe as a juvenile but has moved to David Simcock over the winter. Her hopes rest solely on the change of scenery and her new trainer bringing around some considerable improvement.

HIGHLAND DAUGHTER 8-12 ~ Bred to be a soft ground performer and she proved during her 2yo campaign that she revels in such conditions. The Kyllachy filly should have underfoot conditions to suit with the ground reported to be on the soft side of good. She had been running over 6f as a juvenile but the way she was finishing off her races suggest the extra furlong will be right up her street. The Clive Cox trained 3yo needs to improve on her 2yo form though if she going to win this competitive Group race as she appeared short of that standard last year.

INFALLIBLE 8-12 ~ John Gosdens filly must be highly thought of given that the bookies seem to be taking no chances on the lightly raced daughter of Pivotal. She has only seen a racecourse once where she got off to a winning start in a fillies maiden at HQ. Hard to fully gauge the merits of that performance with so many unraced rivals filling the placings. The first division of the maiden was a weak affair though but it was run in a time more than a second faster than that recorded by Infallible. She is open to any amount of further improvement but she will need to stepped up in class.

KYLAYNE 8-12 ~ Regularly outclassed in pattern class last season it took a drop into a conditions stakes race on the all weather before the Kyllachy filly managed to record her second success after her debut win at Warwick. She’ll need to have improved considerably over the winter if she’s going to be capable of winning a race of this caliber. This trip also looks to stretch her stamina as she didn’t appear to enjoy 7f when finishing behind Albabilia in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes.

NIJOOM DUBAI 8-12 ~ Mick Channons filly pulled off a big surprise when winning the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She hadn’t shown anything in her previous two racecourse appearances to suggest she would be capable of such a performance. The yards runners have a habit of doing just that though on occasions and it was a very impressive performance. Mick Channon has a much better record with his fillies than his colts and he also has the very decent Nahoodh. That stable companion is said to be slightly better but they are both potential Group 1 winners in their own right. Nijoom Dubai wasn’t seen out again last season due to the horse catching a cough which interrupted his preparation of preceding races. If able to reproduce his Royal Ascot form she’s the filly they all have to beat. However Mick Channon has been in poor form since the start of the turf season and most of his younger runners still appear to be carrying their coats. If possible wait to see how the horse looks in the paddock before making any final decision.

QUIET ELEGANCE 8-12 ~ Eric Alstons filly is out of the same mare, Imperial Bailiwick, as Group 1 winning sprinter Reverence. Like her half brother Quiet Elegance she has shown a liking for soft conditions. This was evident at Leicester last time out when winning a conditions race a few weeks ago. Although she only scored by less than a length she ran very green and still managed to score a little cosily. With the run under her belt she should improve in terms of experience and fitness so she looks an interesting runner. The Fantastic Light filly should enjoy the extra furlong and she has the advantage over her main rivals as they have yet to make their 3yo debuts.

RINTERVAL 8-12 ~ The Richard Hannon filly lead the pack home when chasing Albabilia on her debut at Ascot. She didn’t need to improve on that effort to break her maiden next time out at Newbury but she did to quicken up in good style. The progression didn’t end there as she won connections a tidy prize when finishing runner up behind Lush Lashes in the Goffs Fillies Million. Plenty to like about that effort and given her progressive profile there is little reason to think she hasn’t stop improving yet. The yard is in cracking form at the minute and if the moneys down then play special attention to this filly.

ROSALEEN 8-12 ~ The Thirsk maiden in which the Cadeaux Genereux filly won in impressive fashion wasn’t a great race but the 2nd Bonjour Allure has made the form look decent. She was next seen out beating Dubai Time in her maiden win at Beverley with Floristry back in 3rd. Rosaleen however hasn’t built on her easily maiden victory and after getting the run of the race in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes she was well beaten in a nursery. More needed here today now back into Group company and she is unlikely to be able to dictate a steady pace this time.

SHABIBA 8-12 ~ After a promising debut she broke her duck in a decent enough maiden at HQ. There wasn’t much separating the front four at the finish and given what they have done subsequently it doesn’t look a great race. Spinning Lucy was half a length behind the winner in 3rd but she looks to have improved since that run. The Marcus Tregoning filly has only had two runs so far in her career so she is expected to progresses also but she will need to if she to take a hand in the finish. Still as an unexposed well bred filly she cannot be ignored.

SPINNING LUCY 8-12 ~ Barry Hills’ filly took time to get going last season but she ended the year on a high. She won a Listed event on her last start here at Newmarket and she did in pleasing fashion. The way she finished her race suggested another furlong wouldn’t go amiss so if she has continued her progression over the winter she’s a big player.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Albabilia, Festivale, Infallible, Nijoon Dubai, Quiet Elegance, Rinterval, Shabiba and Spinning Lucy.

First of all lets deal with the lightly raced unexposed horses in the shortlist who have the potential to be anything.
Infallible could be anything but as a betting proposition she doesn’t appeal against horses who have shown far more. There are plenty of holes in the form of her winning maiden as well which doesn’t inspire confidence although it would be no surprise if she left that well behind. Recent support for the 1000 Guineas hints that more is expected but hype horses have been beaten before at this meeting and they will be beaten again. In terms of form Infallible can’t be back and unless your in the know then backing him is backing the whispers.
Shabiba is another one of the unexposed horses in the line up but although a big danger the preference is for one of the more exposed runners who has shown a higher level of form. She is capable but she has it to prove it and although closely matched on her maiden form with Spinning Lucy that rival has proven that she can progress.
Quiet Elegance is a big price because she is trained by a small stable but that personal touch might help as the yard also train her half-brother Reverence. She has the advantage over almost all her rivals having already had a prep run and so she looks an attractive price given she probably hasn’t stopped improving.

Now for the more exposed runners in the line up who have at least shown form in races that can be evaluated to some degree of confidence.
Nijoom Dubai is the pick of the bunch after her impressive win at Royal Ascot but given the form of the yard and that she is still wearing her winter coat apparently she is taken on. If your planning on backing her try to wait for a paddock report to see how she looks.
Albabilia has beaten the Mick Channons reported best 3yo filly Nahoodh at Ascot but whereas that rival has progressed the Clive Brittain filly has had an interrupted preparation. Clive Brittain likes to hype up his horses so any quotes are best taken with a pinch of salt but he still clearly thinks a lot of this filly and in a couple of runs she looked a potential guineas challenger. However despite excuses for her poor runs recently there is still a cloud hanging over her head at the minute so currently she isn’t the safest of betting opportunities
Spinning Lucy was held by Rinterval in the Goffs Fillies Million and despite improving since that effort her Listed win still leaves her with ground to find on the principles.
Festivale is an interesting dark horse as her fitness failed her after travelling really well in the Listed event won by Spinning Lucy. Still unexposed she could be anything but she may need the run once again.
Rinterval progressed well as a juvenile last season and she was touted as a potential 1000 Guineas horse. She is entered and currently looks like a likely runner in the Newmarket showpiece for 3yo fillies. Her effort as a 2yo in the Goffs Fillies Million was very decent form given the quality of the horses in behind. The yard is in cracking form and theres nothing to suggest she can’t stop progressing. She looks to have solid chances in this competitive Group 3 unlike some of her closest rivals.

1pt WIN – RINTERVAL @ 5/1

RESULT

RINTERVAL 7th = -1pt